Apparatus for producing fibers from heat-softenable material



Feb. s, 1966 C, g, STALEGO 3,233,991

APPARATUS FOR PRODUGING FIBERS FROM HEAT-SOFTENABLE MATERIAL INVEN TOR. CHA/QL Es J. STALEGO im-420W Feb. 8, 1966 C. J. STALEGO APPARATUS FOR PRoDUcING FIBERs FROM HEAT-SOFTENABLE MATERIAL Filed Oct. 19, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. CHARLES J. STA/ 5Go A T TOR/VE ys C. J. STALEGO Feb. 8, 1966 APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING FIBERS FROM HEAT-SOFTENABLE MATERIAL Filed 0011. 19, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 v by.)

l INVENTOR. CHARLES J. 5ML/560 J7 70m/frs Feb. 8, 1966 c. J. s'rALl-:GO 3,233,991

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING FIBERS FROM HEAT-SOFTENABLE MATERIAL Filed Oct. 19, 1961 4 Shee .s-Sheerl 4 United States Patent() APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING FIBERS FRQM HEAT-SQFTENABLE MATERIAL Charles J. Stalego, Newark, Ohio, assignor to @wens- Corning Fiberglas Corporation, a corporation 'of Delaware Filed Oct. 19, 1961, Ser. No. 146,197

3 Claims. (Cl. 65-11) This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for producing fibers from heat-softenable materials and more especially to a method of and apparatus for producing fibers from heat-softenable mineral materials such as glass, slag or fusible rock.

Fibers of glass and similar materials have been formed or produced by attenuating streams of glass to primary filaments and the primary filaments delivered into a cornparatively high temperature, high velocity gaseous blast wherein the material of the filaments is softened and the softened material drawn out or attenuated to fibers by the forces of the blast. It has been found that in the formation 4of primary filaments from the streams of material that variation in the size of the primary filaments is encountered and when `such primary filaments are attenuated to fibers by a blast that subst-antial variation in the fiber size occursin the end product.

This variation in fiber size is due primarily to variations in size of the primary filaments as the filaments of larger diameter and hence higher volume are attenuated to fibers of substantially larger size than those fibers attenuated from filaments of lesser diameters. Since the volume of glass in a primary filament increases in proportion to the square `of the diameter of the filament and the volume of glass delivered in plurality of streams from a supply increases linearly in proportion to the number of primary filaments, it follows that a small increase in the diameter of a filament or laments will effect a large increase in the throughput of glass, assuming that other factors remain constan-t. Under operating conditions where the streams of glass are delivered from a feeder in an uncontrolled environment, substantial variations in primary filament size and hence variations in volumetric throughput of glass have been encountered resulting in substantial variations in size of fibers formed by the attenuating blast. In an uncontrolled environment it has been found under certain operating conditions that about of the blast attenuated fibers are coarse fibers constituting as high as 63% by weight of the blast attenuated fibers. A mat formed of fibers with such variance in size is of poor resilience, is low in thermal properties and in general is of inferior quality.

The present invention embraces a method `of establishing a controlled environment at the region of delivery of the streams of glass or other heat-softened materialV from a supply whereby improved attenuation of the streams to primary filaments and improved attenuation of the primary filaments to fine fibers is attained.

An object of the invention resides in -control of the ambient conditions at the region of the delivery of the streams of glass from a I.supply whereby primary filaments of substantially uniform size are formed from the streams and, through the provision of more uniform primary filaments, the fine fibers formed therefrom by blast attenuation are of more uniform size through improved attenuating efficiency.

Another object of the invention resides in a controlled environment at the region of delivery of the streams from a supply wherein heat is withdrawn from the streams enabling a substantial increase in the throughput of heatsoftenable material per unit of time as the pull rates for the primary filaments may be increased by reason of 3,233,99l Patented Feb. 8, 1966 ICG more uniform size of primary filaments produced with a consequent increase in the yield of fine fibers of more uniform size.

Another object of the invention resides in a method of forming primary filaments of more uniform size whereby the efiiciency of attenuation of the filaments to fibers by a high velocity blast is increased by reason of a more uniform distribution of the volume of glass in the blast.

Another object of the invention resi-des in an apparatus embodying a shield for controlling the environment of the streams delivered from the supply, the shield arranged to accommodate a circulating temperature controlling fiuid for controlling the ambient conditions at the region of the streams to provide primary filaments of uniform characteristics.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a shield for controlling the environment at the region of the delivery of streams from a supply having a retractable component which enables the primary filaments to be readily threaded into a guide arranged to direct the filaments into an attenuating blast.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means for disposing of filaments when a blast producing burner requires replacement or repair without interrupting the attenuation of primary filaments.

Another object of the invention resides in a means facilitating the disposal of breakout filaments wherein the broken filaments are chopped into short lengths and conveyed away without interrupting the operation.

Further objects and advantages are within the scope of this invention such as relate to the arrangement, operation and function of the related elements of the structure, to various details of construction and to combinations of parts, elements per se, and to economies of manufacture and numerous. other features as will be apparent from a consideration of the specification and drawing of ay form of the invention, which may be preferred, in which:

FIGURE l is a front elevational view of a form of apparatus embodying the invention for forming fibers from heat-softenable materials;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE l with certain parts shown in section;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of an arrangement of the invention providing environmental control for the streams of heat-softened material;

IGURE 4 is a fragmentary detail sectional view through a component of the environmental control arrangement for the streams;

FIGURE 5 is an elevational View of an apparatus for the disposal of waste filaments, certain portions being broken away for purposes of illustration;

FIGURE 6 is an elevational view of one end of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is an elevational view of the opposite end of the arrangement shown in FIGURE 5, and

FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially 4on the line 8 8 of FIGURE 5.

While the apparatus illustrated is particularly adapted for carrying out the method of forming primaries from streams of glass and attenuating the primaries 'into fine fibers, it is to be understood that the method and apparatus of the invention may be employed for forming and processing fibers from other heat-softenable materials which may b-e converted to fibers by the application of attenuating forces.

The apparatus illustrated in FlGURES l through 4 is particularly adaptable for forming fibers from heat-softenable mineral materials such as glass wherein groups of streams of glass from a supply are attenuated to continuous primary filaments and the groups of filaments directed into attenuating blastsof hot gases Wherebythe advancing primary filaments are softened by the heat of the blasts and the softened material drawn or attenuated into fibers by thev forces of the blasts, the fibers being collected out of the blasts upon a suitable collecting surface.

A supply of molten glass or other heat-softened material` may be provi-ded by a forehearth 12 which may be connected to a suitable melting furnace or tank (not shown) adapted to contain glass batchwhich is reduced by heat in a conventional lmanner to afmolten or flowable -condition in the furnace, the molten glass flowing from the furnace into the forehearth.

Disposed beneath the forehearth 12 is a plurality of f through which the molten glass or `other material from the supply Hows in comparatively fine streams 29..

' The forehearth construction 12 is supported by horizontallydisposed structural members 22 and plates 23v 'as shown in FIGURE 2. Theibushings or feeders 14 are i preferably electrically heated by conventional means (not shown) to facilitate accurate control of the temperature of the glass in the feeders. The groups of streams of glass from the feeders are drawn or attenuated into Vgroups of primary filaments or linear bodies 24 for subsequent delivery into` attenuating blasts.

The filaments 24 of each group are passed ,through means 26' for maintaining the filament 24 in spaced relation in the manner shown in FIGURE l. The filaments Iare engaged with pull rolls or nip rolls'Z, the filaments of each group passing through a guidemeans 30 for delivery into an attenuating blast B emanating from an internal combustion burner or blast establishing means 34 provided for each group of primary filaments. The general arrangement of this character for forming primary filaments into fibers by blast attenuation forms the subject.l matter of the pen-ding application of Stalego and I eaman,A

Serial No. 523,753, now Patent No. 3,002,224.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 1 there are three feeders 14 arranged in transversely aligned relation, it being understood that more may be employed if desired. A filament distributing means 26, pull rolls 28 and a guide means 30 are provided for each group of filaments, each group of filaments being delivered into a gaseous blast B emanating from a transversely elongated restricted orifice 36 formed in each of the burner constructions 34. Each `of the blast establishing means or combustion burners 34 is preferably individually supported by a stub shaft 38 supported by a plate 40.

The plate supporting means 40 for each burner is pivotally mounted upon a shaft 42 to adjust the combustion burner 34 about the pivot of the shaft 42 as an axis. Each of the burner supporting pla-tes et) may be individually ad-' justed by means of a threaded member 44 supported by a transversely extending structural member or bar 46 forming a part of a supporting frame 48 for the blast burners 34. The frame means 48 supporting the burners is inclusive of a rectangle base Sti supporting upwardly extending members 52T which are secured at their upper extremities to end members 54 and side members 56.

The frame 48 is provided with lupwardly extending members 60 which support` the primary filament guide means 3@ for each group of filaments. The pair of pull rolls or nip rolls 28 of each unit are geared togetherand the shaft supporting one of each pair of rolls is provided withV a sprocket 64. The sprocket 64 may be driven by aV motor 4or other suitable conventional means (not shown) for advancing the filaments 24 into the attenuating blast at the desired rate. The filament advancing rolls 2S are tube 66, leach tube being connectedwith a manifold 68,`

the latter being supplied with fuel gas and air in the proper portions -to attain high combustion efciency whereby substantiallyl all of the combustibleV gases areburnedwithin each burner chamber,;but may be burned in part outside the orifice, and the burned gases projectedthrough elongated restricted orices` v36 to provide; the attenuating blasts, the burners 34 being larranged ,in transverselyaligned relation as illustrated in FIGURE 1.

The fibers formed bythe attenuating blasts B arek collected upon the upper'fiight 70 of a yforaminous endless belt type conveyor 72"drivenY by a roll 74 connected with a suitable driving motor or other means '(not;shown).

The fibers Si) formed by Ublast :attenuation yare filtered,

out of the blast onto the conveyor belt 70 runder` the'infiuence of subatmospheric pressure established in a chamber 82 providedby a sheet metal receptacle 84, the chamer S2 being connected by means of apipeor'tube86 with a suction blower (not shown) for establishing -subatmospheric pressure beneath the upper, flight 70 of the conveyor. Theisubatmospheric pressure serves to direct the fibersonto the lconveyor `fiight `and disposes. of the spent gases of the-blasts.

. The invention is inclusive of a methodand Ymeans for controlling the ambient conditions at the region of the groups of streams delivered from the feeders or bushings 14. The, control involves the ,provision of a Walled or shielded .region surrounding each group of streams and the use `of a circulating Yfluid mediumffor absorbing and conveying heat away from the streams for .controlling4 ambient transitory atmospheric currents in the regions of the groups of streams andthereby attain more effective stabilization of the ambient conditions and effect a reduction in temperature of the walled region embracing each group of streams. As thecontrol arrangements Vfor the groups of streams are substantiallyidentical a description of one will suffice.

In the embodiment illustratedthe shield constructioni for each ofthe groups of streams flowing from each bushing is generally rectangular in shape comprising side walls. 92 and 94 and end walls 96' and 98. The side wall 92 may be fixedly secured to a member` 100` disposed adjacent the lower portion of a bushing 14 forming a portion of a support for thebushing. The side wall 94' is pivotally supported so as to be retractable .from its normal posi-v tion.

swung; about the pivotal vaxis of the hinge' means 102 ,in

a counterclockwise direction as viewed in kFIGURES 2V and 4.

They endwalls 9e and 98 of each shield unit maybe secured to and supported .by water cooled terminal clamps 97 of conventional construction (not shown) A which are connected lto terminals 99 at the end regions of a feede'rnor bushing 14 -for conducting electricV energy to the feeder forheating the glassv therein, or the shield E units maybe supported by othersuitable means; Means is providedvconnected with the side Wall 9d` for effecting retracting movement of the side wall. Asshown-in FIG- i URES 2 and 3, vthe wall'construction 94 is Vprovided with Y a U-shaped bracket 10,4 to which is secured a head by a pivot shaft mg-the head 105 being secured rto one end of a piston lrod 103, :the latter. extending into a cylin` f der 114i and provided with a` piston V111 reciprocable with-y in the cylinder llli.-

, The end ofthe cylinder opposite the piston rod is, v

provided witha portion `112].pivotally connected bya pivot 114`with a bracket 116 carried bythe plate 23.'V

The wall 94 is secured to a stationary member 101 by hinge means 1MM/hereby the side wall 94fmay be The end heads of the cylinder 110 are respectively provided with flexible tubes or pipes 12and 122v for the.

introduction and withdrawal of fluid to actuate. the piston rod 108 to retract the side wall 94 and to return the side wall to its normal position of use.

Manually operable control valve means of conventional character (not shown) is connected with the flexible pipes 120 and 122 for selectively introducing fluid under pressure into the ends of the cylinder 11i) to effect reciprocal movement of the piston rod108 to effect relative movement of the side wall 94. The shield portion or Wall 94 is renderedV retractable to enable the, operator to properly thread the filaments 24 formed from. the streams into grooves formed in the. spacer or guide member 26 shown in FIGURES 1 andy 2 in order to direct the. individual primary filaments into their respective slots or grooves formed in the guide means 50 adjacent a combustion burner 34.

In the embodiment illustrated, each stationary side wall 92. and each retractable wall 94 is fashioned to provide a channel or duct to accommodate a circulating temperature controlling fluid. FIGURES 3 and 4 illustrate a retractable wall 94 constructed with an inner layer or wall member 124 and an outer layer or wall member 125. The wall 125 is shaped with a raised portion 12( which is of serpentine or tortuous contour forming with the wall member or lamina 125 a continuous channel or duct 127 through which fiuid is circulated. Thev regions 128. of the wall layer 125 adjacent the raised region126 are contiguous with the inner wall 124 andare welded orotherwise secured thereto.

The end regions of the channel 127 are in communication With inlet and outlet pipes 129 and 131i which are connected by fiexible tubes 131 and 132- with a supply of fluid for conveying fluid through the duct 127.

Each of the stationary side wa-lls 92.is of a similar construction providing a continuous duct for accommodating circulating fluid. The ends of the ductin each wall construction 92. is in. communication withinlet andV outlet pipes 129 and 130 which are connected with a supply of fluidby flexible tubes 131 and 132.

rl`he side walls 92 and 94 of the shieldconstruction are ofl substantially the same construction and accommodate circulating temperature controlling fluid which may be circulated at a controlled rate regulated by conventional valve means (not shown) through the channels or ducts 127l The end walls 96and 9Sl in the embodiment illustrated are not arranged to` accommodate temperature controlling fluid but, if desired, may be of a construction similar to that ofthe side walls 92 and 94 to accommodate circulating temperature controlling fi'uidl The water cooled terminal clamps-99 however provide some cooling for the adjacent end regions of the feeders.

Any suitable heat absorbing or coolingfiuid such as water, air or a refrigerant such as dichlorodifiuoromethane or other fluid having heat absorbing characteristics suitable for the purpose may be employed for reducing the temperature and stabilizing thev ambient conditions within the shield in the region of the streams.

By shielding the streams of glass at the region of attenuation of the streams to primary filaments from transitory atmospheric currents or air turbulence and by reducing the temperature through continuously conveying away heat absorbedfrom the streams by the circulating fiuid, the streams are attenuated to primary filaments of substantially uniform size to thereby increase the throughput as all of the uniformly sized primary filaments may be successfully attenuated to fine fibers by the attenuating blast.

As the primary filaments are substantially of uniform size, the blast attenuated fibers formed therefrom will be of'more uniform size and hence a mat formed from such fibers will be less brashy `and have improved insulating properties and better resilience.

The invention is inclusive of means for disposing of breakout filaments when breakouts occur and for con-l tinuously disposing of filaments when any of the burners 34 are out of service for repair or replacement without interrupting the continuous formation or attenuation of the remaining primary filaments which are being delivered into the blasts from the operating burners of the installation. The means for disposing of such primary filaments is of a character to sever or chop the filaments into short lengths so that the wastefilaments can be readily conveyed away from the fiber-forming apparatus.

Gne or more filament disposal means may be employed in the manner and in the positions as hereinafter pointed out. As shown in FIGURE 2, a filament disposal means 14) is illustratedV as disposed beneath each of the filament guides 30 for the purpose of receiving and disposing of filaments when the adjacent burner or blast establishing means is not operating. A similar means may be employed in the position shown in FIGURE 2 to dispose of filaments which break out from the rows of filaments at the right-hand region of the stream feeder, and another disposal means 140 may be positioned as shown in FIG- URE 2 to dispose of breakout filaments from the rowsY of filaments at the left-hand region of the stream feeder.

A- filament disposal means may be disposed in one or all ofthe positions illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3, and such means may be employed concomitantly. The disposal means 146, 140 and 141B are of identical construction and one of such units is illustrated'in FIGURES 5 through 8. The filament disposal means illustrated is inclusive of a housing construction 142, the housing construction including a support or fram-e portion or member 144 preferably of channel shape cross-section mounted by suitable means.

Supported upon the parallel leg portions of the support member 144 is a hollow circular cylindrical or tubular portion or member 146 andsuperposed upon the cylindrical member 146 is a hopper or filament receiver 148.- The hopper portion 148 is preferably fashioned with vertical side walls 150 and converging wall portions 152 which are welded or otherwise joined to the cylindrical member 146. The cylindrical member 146 may be welded or otherwise secured to the frame or support 144.

As shown in FIGURE 5, the housing construction 142` is ofelongated character and the ends of the housing are provided` with end plates 154 and 156. Secured to the end plate 156 is a plate or member 153. The end plate 154` and the plate 158 are bored to, receive bearings or bushings 159 and 160 as shown in FIGURE 5. Rotatably disposed within the hollow interior or chamber 147 provided byl the cylindrical sleeve or member 146 is a spiral screw-like means, said means. comprising a central shaft-like portion 162 on which is formed a spiral vane or screw portion 164.

The shaftportion 162 is formed at its ends with tenon portions 163 and 165 journaled in the bearings or bearing bushings 159 and 160. As viewed in FIGURE 5, a sprocket 168 is fixed upon the tenon 165 ofl the screw means for driving the said means. The hopper portion 150 of the'housing construction 142 is provided with nip rolls 170' and 171- which are mounted upon shafts 172 and 173respectively. The nip rolls'170-'and 171 are preferably fashioned of nonmetallic material such as semihard rubber or the like for feeding waste or breakout.

filament to the filament chopping means or screw 164.

The rotatable screw-like filament severing or choppingl device 164 is contained within the circular cylindrical chamber 147, the upper wall being open as at 175 establishing communication with the hopper 15d. Disposed transversely in the open region 175 and spaced lengthwise of the screw 164 are severing'knives, blades or bars 177', the lower edges 179 of which are curved or arcuately shaped to a curvature reciprocal to the curvature of the periphery of the spiral member or screw 164. The upper faces 18) of the bars 177 are angularly arranged to provide attheir juncture with the edges 179 a plurality of 1 cutting regions or zones 182.

Upon rotation of the screw or spiral member 164, the

filaments, projected through the space 175 by the nip rollsv t 170 and 171, are severed into short lengths by the severing action of the spiral member 164 with the cutting edge or Zones l182.

In this manner the breakout or Waste filaments are chopped up or severed into comparatively short lengths and are conveyed by the spiral member 164 in a righthand direction as viewed in FIGURE 5. Connected with the circular housing 146 is a waste delivery tubey 185 which conveys the chopped filaments to a zone remote from the filament chopping apparatus.

The nip rolls 170 and 171 are preferably driven by means connected with the shaft 162 carrying the-spiral member 164. As particularly shown in FIGURES Sand ided with a spur gear 187 and the spur gear 188, the gears being M 7, the shaft 172 is pro shaft 173 provided wit enmeshed as shown i journaled atrits ends i The shaft 173 is journ 194 and 195. The bl stationary and are su 154 and 156 and sec The blocks 190 an Waysy provided by edge regio URE 7. The shaft 172 iis able blocks 19t) and 191.

blocks 190 and 191 is a bracket construction 260, each bracket being secured to the adjacent plate by means of screws 202. The bight portion 204 of each of the bracket ts formed in the 4 members 154 and 158. Arrange adjacent each of the constructions is provided with a threaded bore to accomf modate a screw 206, the end region of each of the screws 206 extending into an unthreaded bore 208 in the adjacent Yblock 190 or 191.

Assembled on each screw is a coil spring 210, a Washer 212 anda pin 214, the pin 214 extending through a transverse opening in the screw. The pin 214 forms an abutment for the Washer 212 and the washer forms an abutmentfor one end of the spring 210,- the other end engaging the adjacent block forming a bearing for the shaft 172.k By manipulation or rotation of the screws 206, the pressure of the springs 21.0 against the adjacent bearing blocks 190 and 191V may #be adjusted to regulate spaced lbars or separators 220 which are preferably in i vertical alignment with the filament severing bars 177; the relationship between the separators 220 :and the severing bars 177 being illustrated in FIGURE 5.

Through the provision of the separators or vanes 220 the 'waste filaments are directed through the separators 222 and bet-Ween adjacent bars 220 so as to provide for proper distribution of filaments to the cutting knixes 177 adjacent the spiral filament severing screw174. I Journaled upon suitable Ibearing means carried by plate 154is a stub shaft 226 :upon which is iixedly mounted a pinion 228 in mesh with the spur gear 188 kshown in FIGURE 7.`

Also mounted upon the stub shaft 226 is a larger spur gear 230 which is enmeshed with a drive pinion 232 keyed or otherwise secured upon a `tenen 234 formed on the end of the shaft 162 carrying the spiral member 1164.

Thus when the shaft 162 is rotated, the nip rolls 170 and 171 are rotated through the medium of the gears 187, 188, 228, 230 and 232.V A filament disposal unit `may be employedas illustrated at `140 in FIGURE 2 or at 140'-, or atv 140". Three sets of units may be employed in the positions shown in FIGURES v1 and 2.

The sprocket 168 of each end unit is driven by a chain 238 from Va sprocket 240 carried upon a shaft 241 which n S is driven by a speed reducing gearing (not shown) Ycontained in a housing 242',the speed reducing gearing being driven by Aa motor 244. If filament disposalunits are ar-V ranged in the positions shown at :1in FIGURES 1 and 2, the units are driven by a chain 248 from a sprocket mounted upon the motor shaft 241. If filament disposal units' are disposed atthe positions-indicated at 140", the unit is driven-'by a Ichain 250 froma sprocket mounted upon the motor shaft 241.

Where three sets of filamentsevering unitsare employed concomitantly for each group of filaments from a feeder, then three sprockets andk three chainsA are preff erably employed for driving the ythree units or other suitable drive means ,may be, employed. With particular reference to FIGURE` l, it will be seen that threeffilament choppers are provided for each of the` groups of filaments from the feeders.

Each group of transversely aligned filament chopping units are driven by a coupling 254 connecting the shafts 162 of the several units together; Similar couplings (not shown) may be utilizedv to join the shafts 172 and 173 for each pair of nip rolls contained within a unit.

In the use of the chopping device in a position indicated at v140 in FIGURES 1 and 2, ,the lfilaments projectedk through the guide 30 are deliveredinto the nip vregion of the rolls and 1711V and are conveyed to the cutting instrumentality 164 `and are thereby vsevered into short lengths which are discharged through the discharge chute 185. By this method filaments may be continuously at-v tenuated from the, glass streams without interrupting the stream fiow of attenuation when one of the blast producing burners 34 is out of service or is being replaced, as the filaments normally deliveredtothe said burner are continuously chopped up and conveyed y,away through the tube 185. Y

The filament chopping l device or instrumentality disposed in the ,position indicated at 1405 facilitates the delivery of breakout filaments from the rows of streams at the right-hand region t of the feeder i14-so that such breakout filaments may be .fed rinto the device `140 ywithout impairing continued attenuation of the vrremaining filaments; Breakout filaments from the streams-at the` left`V chopping units for each group of laments inr any of the operative positions illustrated in FIGURE 2.

Through the use of one or more filament severing and disposing instrumentalities of the character described, 'continuous attenuation of filaments 24 may be carried on even if a burner needs replacement or'if one or more filaments break outV from la group-.asV the lfugitive filaments are,

choppedl up until the operator'rethreads.suchfilaments into a guidet).

It is apparent that, within the scopeoftthe invention,

modifications and different arrangements mayjbe made other than as' herein disclosed, and the, present disclosure is illustrative merely, the invention rcomprehending allV variations thereof.

I claim:

1. Apparatus of the character disclosed, inncombina-v tion, a stream feeder for flowingL a group of streams of heat-softened Vfilament forming mineral material from a supply, means including a vrnovablevmember engageablelwith filaments formed from the .streams for attenuatingV the streams to-filaments, means for severing the. filaments to vcomparatively short lengths, 1said filament severing means vcomprising a housing arranged ,to receive filaments, a rotatable element formed'with a spirally shaped filament engaging means, means forl rotating said element, a pluralityk of transversely disposed longitudinally-spaced blades in'said housing arranged adjacent the spirally shaped filament engaging means whereby filaments introduced into the housing are severed into short lengths by the severing action of the bla-des and the spirally shaped means, and -feed rolls adjacent the blades for directing the filaments into engagement with the spirally-shaped means.

2. Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, a stream feeder for flowing a group of streams of heat-softened fiber-forming mineral material, means including a movable member engageable with the continuous primary filaments formed from the streams for attenuating the streams to continuous primary filaments, means establishing a high velocity gaseous attenuating blast above the temperature of the material of the ilaments, guide means arranged to normally direct the continuous primary filaments into the blast whereby the material of the laments is softened and attenuated to tine ibers by the heat and velocity of the gases of the blast, filament severing means arranged adjacent the normal path of movement of the primary filaments whereby the primary filaments may be directed thereto upon impairment of the stream feeder to ,deliver its full complement of streams or impairment of the attenuating blast, said filament severing means comprising a housing, a rotatable element having a spirally-shaped iilament severing section in said housing, and a plurality of transversely-extending bars spaced lengthwise of the element and arranged for cooperation with the spirally-shaped sever-ing section whereby the iilaments ldirected to the severing means may be severed into comparatively short lengths by rotation of said element.

3. Apparatus of the character disclosed, in co-mbination, a stream feeder for flowing a group of streams of heat-softened fiber-forming mineral material, means including a movable member engageable with the continuous primary filaments formed from the streams for attenuating the streams to continuous primary filaments, shield means surrounding the group of streams at the region of attenuation providing a controlled Zone, said shield means including a retractable wall section and a relatively stationary wall section, said shield sections being provided with channels accommodating circulating heat-absorbing fluid for controlling ambient temperature environment of the group of streams, means establishing a high velocity gaseous attenuating blast above the temperature of the material of the filaments, guide means arranged to normally direct the continuous primary filaments into the blast whereby the material of the lilaments is softened and attenuated to fine fibers by the heat and velocity of the gases of the blast, filament severing means arranged adjacent the normal path of movement of the primary filaments whereby the primary filaments may be directed thereto upon impairment of the stream feeder to deliver its full complement of streams or impairment of the attenuating blast, said filament severing means comprising a housing, a rotatable element having a spirallyshaped filament severing section in said housing, and a plurality of transversely-extending bars spaced lengthwise of the element and arranged for cooperation with the spirally-shaped severing section whereby the laments directed to the severing means may be severed into comparatively short lengths by rotation of said element.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,027,015 1/ 1936 Bell 241-255 2,096,080 10/ 1937 Berne-Allen 83-913 2,217,766 10/1940 Neff 83-913 2,457,777 12/ 1948 Holtschulte et al. 65-16 2,489,243 11/1949 Stalego 65-7 2,570,466 10/1951 MacHenry 83--913 2,631,668 3/1953 Wicker 83-913 2,719,336 10/1955 Stotler 83-913 2,763,100 9/ 1956 Holtschulte 65-1 2,874,406 2/1959 Firrihaber 65-14 2,908,036 10/1959 Russell 65-12 2,991,507 7/1961 Levesque et al 65-6 3,002,224 10/ 1961 Stalego et al. 65-9 3,012,281 12/ 1961 Stalego 65-6 DONALL H, SYLVESTER, Primary Examiner,

MICHAEL V. BRINDISI, Examiner. 

2. APPARATUS OF THE CHARACTER DISCLOSED, IN COMBINATION, A STREAM FEEDER FOR FLOWING A GROUP OF STREAMS OF HEAT-SOFTENED FIBER-FORMING MINERAL MATERIAL, MEANS INCLUDING A MOVABLE MEMBER ENGAGEABLE WITH THE CONTINUOUS PRIMARY FILAMENTS FORMED FROM THE STREAMS FOR ATTENUATING THE STREAMS TO CONTINUOUS PRIMARY FILAMENTS, MEANS ESTABLISHING A HIGH VELOCITY GASEOUS ATTENUATING BLAST ABOVE THE TEMPERATURE OF THE MATERIAL OF THE FILAMENTS, GUIDE MEANS ARRANGED TO NORMALLY DIRECT THE CONTINUOUS PRIMARY FILAMENTS INTO THE BLAST WHEREBY THE MATERIAL OF THE FILAMENTS IS SOFTENED AND ATTENUATED TO FINE FIBERS BY THE HEAT AND VELOCITY OF THE GASES OF THE BLAST, FILAMENT SERVING MEANS ARRANGED ADJACENT THE NORMAL PATH OF MOVEMENT OF THE PRIMARY FILAMENTS WHEREBY THE PRIMARY FILAMENTS MAY BE DIRECTED THERETO UPON IMPAIRMENT OF THE STREAM FEEDER TO DELIVER ITS FULL COMPLEMENT OF STREAMS OR IMPAIRMENT OF THE ATTENUATING BLAST, SAID FILAMENT SEVERING MEANS COMPRISING A HOUSING, A ROTATABLE ELEMENT HAVING A SPIRALLY-SHAPED FILAMENT 